Lily Azerad-Goldman

Reviewer Lily
Azerad-Goldman, B.F.A. Lily is an artist and a children's author.
Follow Here to view Lily's art work. She is also the author and
illustrator of the children's book Mrs.Nosy -A Composting Story
For Children & Adults.

Clinical psychologist and the founder of Structure House in 1977,
Gerard J. Musante, Ph.D. has the gift of concise organized prose that
hits with great impact. Among the myriads of weight loss volumes, his
The Structure House Weight Loss Plan stands in first place.

Don’t make the mistake of relegating this volume to the narrow
genre of “another diet book.” This book will change your entire
lifestyle whether you are overweight or not.

After struggling with his own weight in his adolescent years,
trying countless diets that never worked, Dr. Musante has devoted his
professional life to developing and teaching the principles of
behavior modification to overweight people. He achieves his goal by
adopting a step- by -step process wherein our lifestyles are
modified. The book is divided into the following three parts.

The first part, GET STRUCTURED, deals with the recognising of your
attitude problem i.e. weight is not my fault, foods are too fatty, no
time to prepare healthy foods, etc. etc. This approach hinders your
motivation and your ability to control weight loss. Dr. Musante
explains how to be the captain of your fate and in control of what
goes into your stomach.

He then goes on to reverse your plan from live to eat to eat to
live; how to take responsibility and controlling the changing process
as to how you think about food. By virtue of a series of exercises he
maps out the path to this journey in taking control of our lives.

Dr. Musante’s first concern is that dieters must obtain a good
medical assessment of their health before embarking on a diet
program. He lists all the diseases that may be caused by your
overweight problem as well as other health problems. Also
included is a clearly listed Appendix where you can calculate your
BMI index in order to know where exactly you stand.

In part two, BE STRUCTURED: Implementation of the Behavioral
Principles of the Structure House Weight Plan, Dr. Musante advocates
the keeping of a diary and the planning of your meals at home and at
the restaurant. He also provides you with a tool kit for
change.” Instead of thinking of food all the time, you should
devote some attention to other goals as painting or another hobby in
order to occupy your hands and mind. Naturally, he stresses the
importance of exercise.

The third part, STAY STRUCTURED: Maintain the Structure House
Weight Plan: counsels us to write a letter of commitment to
ourselves.

In addition, several tips are presented in reference to shopping
in the supermarket, understanding food labels, eg: no saturated fats
(from animals) and no trans fats. Dr. Musante advocates the use of
monounsaturated fats such as canola and olive oils. As well, he lists
all the contents of margarine and butter and which one has the least
calories.

Eating in restaurants as well as on the road are also dealt with
in detail and also incorporated in the book is a special section
concerning ethnic restaurants and how to choose your menus. You will
also find charts, plans, and elements of lifestyle change, all of
which are essential in battling your weight problem.

Considerable ink is devoted to how to identify your body mass
index and our metabolism. A sample Exchange list and a structure
house menu sampler crowns this very well planned book.

The ending of the book reviews change with charts that are quite
easy to read and understand. You even a section dealing with
relaxation techniques.

Consider THE STRUCTURE HOUSE Weight Loss Plan as if you have at
home your own diet Guru.

Dr. Musante is a great motivator and even though I personally
follow the Weight Watchers diet program, (which Dr. Musante
recommends highly), I intend to combine the two methods.

Dr. Musante serves as a consulting professor in psychiatry and
behavioural sciences at Duke University Medical Center and the Duke
University School of Medicine. He and his Structure House program
have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
Newsweek, People, USA Today and on 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper 360
and Good Morning America.